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Comcast fined $150,000 in Internet-usage case
The Florida attorney general has fined Comcast Corp. $150,000 as part of a settlement for failing to disclose when an Internet customer could get into trouble for excessive downloading and e-mailing.
Comcast spokesman Charlie Douglas yesterday said the company cooperated with Florida authorities.
The investigation, which began in September 2007, is another sign of the close scrutiny authorities are giving Comcast's Internet business. The Federal Communications Commission recently ordered Comcast to stop blocking or interrupting certain Internet traffic.
As part of its Florida settlement, Comcast agreed to disclose what it means by excessive Internet usage.
Comcast also agreed to carefully use the word unlimited in advertising the Internet service. The company can use unlimited but has to include qualifications in the advertisement.
In late August, the Philadelpia cable giant disclosed that any residential customer who downloaded and uploaded 250 gigabytes of data a month, the equivalent of 50 million e-mails, would violate its excessive-use limits.
If the customer failed to reduce Internet usage, Comcast could cancel service for a year. Comcast said median Internet usage is about three gigabytes a month.
The Florida agreement calls for the new policy to take effect Jan. 1. Comcast has said it will take effect nationally.
Contact staff writer Bob Fernandez at 215-854-5897 or bob.fernandez@phillynews.com.
Contact staff writer Bob Fernandez at 215-854-5897 or bob.fernandez@phillynews.com.
